School district to launch WheresTheBus app districtwide

July 31, 2018

The School District of Lee County announced that the WheresTheBus app will be available to all students and parents for the 2018-2019 school year.

The app allows users to track a specific bus to their stop in the morning and on the way home in the afternoon.

"The Where's the Bus app puts the power of information right into our students and parents hands," Executive Director of Transportation Services Robert Codie said. "Using the app can help eliminate questions about when a student's bus will arrive at their stop by showing exactly where it is. This kind of real time data will assist students getting to school and parents get to work on time in the morning, and home in the afternoon."

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SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY

Schools also use the app to track buses to the ramp in the morning and prepare for any last-minute arrivals. In the afternoons, school staff can tell when all buses are at the ramp and ready for loading without having to go outside and then follow them as they deliver students back home.

Information about downloading and signing up for the app will be provided to parents as the school year starts. A short informational video on how to sign up for the app will be posted on the district's YouTube and Facebook pages.

"While we can't wait for our parents to use Where's the Bus, we do expect the districtwide rollout to take the first quarter of the year," he said. "We just ask for some patience during the first few months of school."

The apps security features only allow parents and guardians to track their students' bus.

WheresTheBus was tested in a pilot program in May at Heights Elementary. Parents gave it rave reviews and school staff found it extremely helpful, according to officials. The success convinced the district to spend $35,000 a year make the app available to all students and parents.

The budget is set for tentative approval today and final approval in September.